{"id":7889,"date":"2019-09-01T05:00:50","date_gmt":"2019-09-01T05:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/?p=7889"},"modified":"2019-08-30T19:44:31","modified_gmt":"2019-08-30T19:44:31","slug":"black-star-riders-another-state-of-grace-nuclear-blast-records","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/?p=7889","title":{"rendered":"Black Star Riders – Another state Of Grace (Nuclear Blast Records)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>I\u2019ve been a huge fan of Ricky Warwick for a long time and have enjoyed whatever music he has put out whether it\u2019s the loud punk-metal of The Almighty or his storytelling solo albums and what we now come to know the great rock\u2019n\u2019roll of the Black Star Riders.<\/span><\/p>\n

On the first trio of the Black Star riders albums, the songs have been largely co-written by Ricky and guitarists Damon Johnson and the legend that is guitar slinger Scott Gorham.<\/span><\/p>\n

So it was a surprise when it was let known that Damon Johnson was moving on to pastures new and that the vacant guitar player slot was being filled by Christian Matrucci who is guitarist of Stone Sour and also to my delight I have discovered he has had various bands of his own over the years which I have found too have released top draw music but the question is\u00a0 would he gell with Black Star Riders.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fear, not Christian has not only fitted in but the music is all the better for it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Starting off this new album titled \u201cAnother State Of Grace\u201d we have the track \u201cTonight The Moonlight Let Me Down\u201d and <\/span>immediately<\/span> the ears are treated to a great guitar riff and Ricky’s trademark gruff vocal. Scott and Christian\u2019s guitar mesh together beautifully to create a great rock\u2019n\u2019roll sound and we even have some saxophone added into the mix which fits in perfectly.<\/span><\/p>\n

On track two we get the song \u201cAnother State Of Grace\u201d which was the first song to be released as a single and this song has a big Celtic sound to it with a backing chant of \u201chey\u201d being shouted which really makes the track stand out.<\/span><\/p>\n

Up next we have \u201cAin\u2019t The End Of The World\u201d which is the second single to be released and this track has what I would call the classic Thin Lizzy sound with Scott Gorham’s trademark guitar all over it yet has a freshness that while takes you back to the glory days of Thin Lizzy it also shows how the Black star riders are very much their own band with their own identity.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUnderneath The Afterglow\u201d starts off with a great classic rock guitar riff with a great vocal by Ricky and what strikes me is how Christian\u2019s backing vocals go together so well with Ricky\u2019s that you would think they have been in a band together for years.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSoldier In The Ghetto\u201d is up next and this track adds a funky intro before relaxing back into a great Black Star riders chorus and shows a band that\u2019s not afraid to mix things up a bit but when they do they do it well.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy Do You Love Your Guns\u201d slows the pace down a bit with a beautifully crafted acoustic guitar intro before a crunchy electric guitar riff is introduced to build the song up and a great passionate vocal by Ricky makes this track another winner.<\/span><\/p>\n

Next up we have \u201cStanding In The Line Of Fire\u201d and this track picks the pace back up with some pounding drums and driving bass and a shredding guitar solo that makes this a great rock song.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat Will It Take?\u201d is another track which features acoustic guitar mixed with electric to add to a song with great harmonies. Also, we have some great female backing vocals which yet again add another dimension to the Black star riders sound.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn The Shadow Of The War Machine\u201d is a awesome rocker of a track with some real biting guitar and lyrics that describe the troubled times we are living in yet even though this is a serious song it still has the great harmonies and an uplifting chorus that I hope to hear live on the upcoming tour.<\/span><\/p>\n

Finishing off the album is the track \u201cPoisoned Heart\u201d and this is how an album should be finished off and that is with style with Ricky\u2019s soaring vocals backed with great backing vocals from Christian and great all-round work from the rest of the band making sure this album goes out with a bang.<\/span><\/p>\n

Overall words are hard to describe how great this album is because every song on here is a sure-fire crowd-pleaser with no weak tracks or filler to be heard anywhere.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is a great album that on repeated listens is an album that will keep on giving and in this reviewer\u2019s opinion is Black Star Riders finest work to date.<\/span><\/p>\n

Buy ‘Another State Of Grace’\u00a0Here<\/a><\/p>\n

Author: Gareth ‘Hotshot’ Hooper<\/p>\n

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